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Newer model available

Big face, awesome displayYou won't lack for song info with JVC's KW-R900BT CD receiver. It fills your double-DIN (4" tall) dash opening opening, giving you an easy-to-read 4-line display, ultra-big buttons, and a control knob that's really easy to grab. You can set different colors for the display and controls — with 30,000 hues on tap, you'll definitely find a scheme that looks good in your dash.

Big face, awesome display
You won't lack for song info with JVC's KW-R900BT CD receiver. It fills your double-DIN (4" tall) dash opening opening, giving you an easy-to-read 4-line display, ultra-big buttons, and a control knob that's really easy to grab. You can set different colors for the display and controls — with 30,000 hues on tap, you'll definitely find a scheme that looks good in your dash.

Hands-free calling & music streaming
Of course, Bluetooth lets you talk hands-free in the car, but now you can pair up your iPhone, Android™ smartphone, or Blackberry™ to get some sweet functionality. For example, you'll be able to receive text message notification, stream music, or access Internet radio stations, depending on your phone's features. JVC's Android app also lets you control some receiver functions using swipes and gestures.

There's no need to choose between pairing your personal and business phones. When a call comes in, the receiver will blink either blue or red, so you'll know at a glance if your call is coming from home or the office. To answer a call, just tap the volume knob. To call out, you can bring up the QWERTY keyboard on the screen, then type in the name of the person you want to contact, and the receiver will find it in your phonebook.

Great for iPod®, plus control Pandora®
Once you plug your iPod or iPhone® into the convenient front-panel USB input, you can use the KW-R900BT's oversized knob and buttons to navigate your music library. And with your iPhone connected, you can play your Pandora® Internet Radio stations from your dash, and even skip and rate songs like you do online.

Higher-power USB connection
JVC upped the power in their USB port, which lets you keep your smartphone charged, even when it's doing several tasks at once. And with your smartphone connected, you can listen to its internal memory as one source and access the little microSD card as another.

Want to keep your car's steering wheel audio controls?
In most vehicles, you can use an adapter (see "Accessories") to connect your vehicle's steering wheel controls to this JVC stereo. Connect a few wires, then program the adapter for your particular car and the JVC, and you'll retain the convenience of your steering wheel controls.

JVC KW-R900BT Reviews

Average Customer Review(s):

(109 Reviews)

Inconsistent

M4050 from California on 2/26/2015

2010 Nissan Versa

I was looking for a stereo with good blue tooth capability as I drive a lot and would use the blue tooth 3-4 days a week. I bought the JVC KW-R900BT and it worked good for the first couple of months then stopped syncing automatically. I have had the stereo for about 2 years and would not buy it again. I have to re-sync 7 out of 10 times to my iphone. I did the same with the iphone 4s and now with my iphone 6.

Pros:Looks close to stock and fills the space nicely. Has nice outputs and a front facing USB port to charge my iphone.

Cons:the Bluetooth stinks and is unreliable. Do not buy this receiver unless you want a blue tooth receiver where the blue tooth only works part time.

1 of 1 found this helpful

Decent Radio

Honestly, this is a decent upgrade to the JBL Synthesis radio in my 4Runner. Of that, I'm not denying. That being said, the build quality of the h/u is so, so. It feels cheap, the display is very blocky, the plastic on the face scratches *very* easily. The Android compatibility is barely existent. The sound that's produced from the radio is not shabby. Bluetooth call quality is horrendous-- even after trying all troubleshooting the receiving end of the call echoes and can rarely hear you. I have used the CD player source maybe three times and now have to send the hardware in to be repaired-- the h/u will not eject my disc. I do not feel that you get much bang for the buck.

Pros:Fits well in the dash, radio sound quality, connections for about everything you need

Horrible

This thing is very cheap. The only way to listen to Pandora is through the head unit. At least you can sort alphabetically before scrolling. The wheel is really slow to react and the menu is horrible. EQ and any other setting is buried and hard to get to. The head unit has 3 "display" modes, but it only changes the size of the words "auxillary mode" or whatever it says. It will not display song or artist. The clock also will not change when you have an iPhone or iPod plugged in. It will just display the time when you plugged it in and then quit updating. You can skip songs while using Pandora from the headset but have no control from your phone. When you are using Spotify or music from the phone, none of the buttons on the head unit work and you can only control from the phone. Seriously? Sound quality is ok, I still get sound out of the speakers. The rest is pretty bad, I thought it would grow on me and I would get used to it, but it functions so poorly I just can't live with it. I'll be returning this thing ASAP.

Pros:It sends sound through my speakers.

Cons:Everything else about it.

1 of 1 found this helpful

Simple, stable, reliable

I ordered a fancy touchscreen a few months back for Carplay support, pulling out this guy's older brother the 810, which had served me well for 2 years. That was a mistake. The touchscreen was buggy, didn't support the phone properly, etc. Thanks to Crutchfield's excellent customer service, I exchanged it for this guy.
This thing is simple, stable. Screen color is heavily customizable with either a RGB picker menu or one of about 30 presets for various colors, for both screen and buttons independently. The video reviews I've seen before complain about the source button being too bright; if you turn the night brightness down all the way for the buttons, it's tolerable - (on its scale of 1-20, I'd like it to go maybe 2 "more dim", but it isn't blinding). Sounds good, if not a tad too loud at medium volume. Easy to read screen. It just works.
Bluetooth has never failed to pick up immediately since I first put it in. Although it is clearly stated once you dig, the "2 USB" is misleading since one is used by a dongle. However, it adds flexibility. With the similar 810 setup, I had the bluetooth in front and ipod in glove box... I could just yank the bt dongle to use second usb as needed. this time around dongle is in back, and I've just been using BT to connect.

Cons:RDS Traffic info one word at a time.
Title Scrolling is page up style instead of left to right - odd.
With the Access steering wheel controllers, you get next/prev from steering wheel, but not seek when you hold. (Might be limitation of all steering wheel controls, I dunno)
Source button just a tad too bright.
Wish it had HD radio, but will survive.

Good upgrade from factory stereo

Great upgrade from my car's stock radio. Car stereos are somehow stuck in a pre-iPod, pre-iPhone user interface of extreme crappiness. This unit is no worse but also no better than all the rest.

Pros:Color matching lighting.
2 USBs. (Though you have to use one for the Bluetooth.)
iPod control.
Bluetooth has worked perfectly, in my limited trials of it.

Cons:I thought it had 2 USB ports + Bluetooth. If you want bluetooth, you have to use up one of the USB ports.
Has a large display that it does not use well. I can barely see the name song that's playing on the radio or on the iPod because the screen, though big, is actually super-low resolution and poorly thought out.
Radio interface is awkward. Trying to get to presets above 6 is hard. (This is a good example of

2 of 2 found this helpful

Nice Receiver

I wanted to upgrade the factory radio in my 2005 4Runner so that I had Bluetooth capability for work. The Bluetooth works great and is easy to use. Receiver seems to be of high quality in terms of build, was relatively to install, and sounds good. I didn't give 5 stars on sound quality only because I don't think it was a huge upgrade over the factory model. However, functionality is much better and the ability to program the display colors makes it fit right into the existing dash as though it is stock. Crutchfield is awesome for finding the right unit that will fit the application. Installation was easy- didn't have any issues at all. Highly recommend.

Pros:Bluetooth functionality, ease of use, simplicity in its design, pretty good sound quality, DSP works great, able to use existing onboard JBL amp and stock JBL sub and speakers (required an adapter to do but purchased with the receiver).

Cons:none really- I didn't order the steering wheel adapter thinking I could live without the added expense but find myself now wishing I had installed it. Will order and install in near future. Maybe I am old school, but I sure do wish that you could find radio stations by rotating the dial instead of only having the seek mode. Minor gripe though.

solid performance, simple face.

Great sounding, solid performance for the price. A double din radio that uses well laid out physical buttons instead of touch screen that would require taking eyes off the road and a steady finger to use. Great sound, easy to adjust display, nice high level amp outs (6 total) and an impressive DSP function that actually improves the sound in my little eclipse.

plenty of customization

This is a very customizable stereo. From the colors on the screen, down to the audio settings, there is plenty to fix it how you want it.
Sound is exceptional and the 5v preamp outs are very helpful in getting the sound across perfectly to the amps.

Pros:5v preamp outs, color customization, Bluetooth works great, sound settings are about as much as I need

Cons:Scrolling through the sources can be a bit annoying, but not a deal breaker

JUst what I needed

I bought this to replace an older JVC that had stopped working and was looking for a unit that I could install using existing wiring. It was recommended by advisor Marshall and is perfect. I could have bought the XR910 for much less but this was the only unit he referred me too. I'm not sure I wouldn't have been just as happy with the less expensive unit but this does have more features. I installed it myself in just over an hour and the majority of that time was spent trying to get the wiring in back out of the way so I could get the mounting screws in. All of the connections were identical to my old receiver so the connections took about 15 seconds. It sounds awesome running through a Kenwood amp even though my rear speakers are factory I can even use the remote from the old one so I have a backup.. I have yet to try out the bluetooth, Pandora, or even the CD player as 95% of the time I have a flash drive plugged into the USB port with most of my favorite tunes playing. I just hope it lasts much longer than the previous unit did.

Pros:Great sound and many options for music sources. Controls are easy to use.

Cons:Volume knob is very smooth and you kind of have to pinch hard to get it to turn and a couple of times it has paused because it pushed in while I was only trying to turn it. I hope I can get used to it.

5 of 6 found this helpful

Good unit

Installed this in 05 dodge magnum r/t non nav with the Boston premium system. Nice looking unit and great display. Sound quality is better than the stock unit. I am running it through the factory amp and speakers with the Radio Pro which is awesome I highly recommend it as it solves the can-bus install problems. I have the pre-outs connected to a RF P400-4 running a pair of Diamond Tweeters and a JL 500/1 running an RE SE 10" sub to round out the sound.
It does have a few issues. The Bluetooth takes longer than expected to connect compared to my Pioneeer and also lacks the SQ via Bluetooth the Pioneer has. The controls seem a little strange as well to un-pause the music you hit the MENU button? Pandora seems to hijack the unit every time I want to play music via USB cable even when it's not running.
All in all I recommend this unit as it sounds great and has great features. It does have a few quirks but nothing major.

Pros:Display, time alignment, DSP, high volt pre outs

Cons:Bluetooth slow to connect and scratchy at times, controls are not intuitive

2 of 2 found this helpful

JVC KW-R900BT

I changed my factory radio and speaker looking for some improvement on the audio quality of my 2002 Mazda Protege. I got surprised with the quality of the audio. pairing this radio with 4 Rockford Fostage Punch speakers make it sound great without the need of adding a separate sub-woofer. the feature that let you change the color of the lights, fit perfectly with my car dash red color. possibilities are endless with this feature. adjusting the Audio/DSP and you can immerse yourself with the sounds providing a better perception of were these instruments are located.

Pros:great sound quality. features described worked great.

Cons:None Yet

1 of 1 found this helpful

Nice Upgrade to my OEM Unit

Carolyn G from Orlando, FL on 3/29/2014

I bought this unit to replace the original radio in my 2004 Ford Explorer and have been using it for just one week. Crutchfield's instructions made the installation very smooth, although I did have to call tech support regarding the amp connections that weren't described in the supplied instructions. Although cheaper elsewhere, I bought from Crutchfield because of the vehicle-specific wiring harness and installation kit, the 60-day return policy, and the great customer/technical service most reviews talk about.
The biggest problem I have had so far was the clock. About 10 minutes after starting the vehicle (and turning the unit on), the clock would reset 4 hours and 12 minutes in the past. From there it would keep time and then spontaneously correct itself to the current time. The solution was turning off the Auto setting for the clock adjustment (Auto was the default) which syncs the time to a satellite radio signal. Since I don't have a satellite radio, who knows where it was getting the signal from. I would still like to know why it always reset exactly 4 hours and 12 minutes, though; that seems like a random value.

Pros:Fits nicely into the space; sound is customizable; clock remains visible while unit has power

JVC KW-R900BT

I am very pleased with the radio w/ one exception. When listening to pandora sometimes a pause window flashes and the manual addresses this and tech support couldn't help because they didn't know how to address this issue as well..

Pros:

Cons:

1 of 1 found this helpful

Tops in it's Price Range

I've had this in my 2008 Honda Element for a few years and so far so good, well almost*
I chose the double din for it's ease of use. I'm 50 year's young, but my eyes are-a-not-so-good for close ups as they once were. The double din size means I no longer have to put on my reading glasses every time I need to adjust the head unit.
Sound Quality - I know this is relative and being a lover of "old school" ie., vintage Marantz, EPI system in my man cave, the JVC satisfies my need for clean crisp (digital-Ipod sound source) sound while traveling without offending my ears. Even with the stock dual front and rear speakers (yes, I know it's a sacrilege) it sounds, well - surprisingly good.
It has decent power without the need for a separate amp. The efficiency of the dual cone speakers helps as well. I originally installed a Clarion double din unit. The Clarion CX501 is very nice btw. It was slightly smoother than the JVC, but on the flip side the JVC has a crisper, more detailed sound. I'm sure it has something to do with the digital to analog converter. If it were in my home, I'd lean toward the Clarion's warmth, but in a Honda Element (aka noisy interior) the JVC is a better choice. Since I wasn't installing a separate amp, the JVC's extra power vs the Clarion also made a difference. Both are great sounding units in their respective price range. I could be equally happy with either, especially if I were to add a separate amp to the Clarion and better speakers.

Pros:Good Value
Adjustments not too challenging to work while driving
Good Quality Sound without a Separate Amplifier
I like the generous size volume knob; although it's personal preference I'd prefer a non-chrome knob.
Ease of Use is about Average - some units need study and practice to operate. The JVC is nearly intuitive to figure out. Not so bad.
Bluetooth works well with the JVC. The Clarion Unit was quirky, working off and on with the need for fiddling.

Cons:*Now for the "well almost" part. On occasion, the unit will not turn on or the display won't come on once you've turned on the ignition and drive. Turning the ignition off and then on again fixes the problem. The only challenge is sometimes I don't notice this until I'm off and on my way. Again this happens only once and a while but it's not as you can imagine something I enjoy. I like the unit so I live with it.
The radio doesn't auto scan. I'd like to see a scan feature on the radio.

6 of 7 found this helpful

Highly Recommended

Exchanged a Kenwood DPX500BT for this unit. It was only installed a couple of days ago, but I am impressed so far. Installed easily in my '07 Frontier. Sound is very good and setup, even for the bluetooth, is simple. One of the main reasons I chose this unit is that the clock is displayed when the unit is off and also in all modes when the unit is on. Color can be set separately for the display and the buttons and the button color can even be turned off during the day. Display can be light on a dark background or vice versa making it easy to see at night.

Pros:Clock can be on when unit is off, plus during operation.
Color can be turned off on the buttons during the day.
Display can be light on dark or dark on light.

Cons:Display brightness is adjustable, but a greater range would be nice.

1 of 1 found this helpful

Great Unit

Really pleased with this unit, especially at this price point. It has been very easy to use and learn all the functions, and the handsfree phone is a nice addition to the truck. The Bluetooth connection works seamlessly with both phones. The display is easy to read, even in bright sun, and the variable colors made it easy to match the rest of the dash display.

if you are looking for a great sound, it is the address

I have 2010 subaru impreza. After purchasing a vacuum tube amplifier (helix e400) i decided to change my factory installed cd player. It was a big change. the sound quality incredible. It was a big change. I can only turn up abt 1/3 of the max sound capacity since it becomes too loud to be in the car.

Pros:sound quality.

Cons:not easy to use.

3 of 3 found this helpful

Simple Yet Sophisticated

I was looking for a head unit with power and simplicity while providing bluetooth audio/phone and quality preamps; I found it all in this unit. Sounds amazing with my Polk Audio components and JL 5x7s.

a treble buzz on every note

Unit would not match my stock speakers. had a treble "buzz" at the end of every note. 5 band EQ would NOT take this sound out. installed in a buick with 9 stock speakers and a stock amp. Unit would probably be great if building whole system from scratch. Crutchfield was great and swapped it out for me. new Sony had some setting that took this "buzz" away.

Awesome...Just Awesome

Bought this unit to replace the OEM unit in my Silverado. Best decision I'e made when it comes to car/truck audio. My wife was so impressed she said why don't you get some better speakers too? So back to Crutchfield for a subwoofer and 6 new other speakers!

Got What I Was Seeking....

Wanted to upgrade my system to get better iPod integration and add Bluetooth, as handheld cellphone use in a vehicle in IL is going away soon. Got them both. Unfortunately, Bluetooth failed after about three days, but Crutchfield promptly replaced the unit. This unit is an excellent value. May have preferred a DVD unit, but my vehicle is older (2004) and spending even more $$$$ might not have been wise. Three lines of display was essential for me, and this unit works and sounds great.

Pros:Price/Value, iPod integration and Bluetooth.

Cons:While disappointed in the initial defect, really no cons for me otherwise. By comparison, probably getting more than you are paying for.

3 of 3 found this helpful

JVC KW-R900BT

Sound quality wasn't the best. Eq allows some adjustment but switched to a pioneer head unit and sound was greatly improved. Scrolling through the iPod to select an artist was terrible. The unit could not handle scrolling quickly and changes to numbers instead of artist name. Impossible to quickly find the artist you want. Remote has no options and was unusable for me. Will not consider another jvc head unit.

Pros:Looks good

Cons:iPod control, sound poor, remote

5 of 7 found this helpful

Should of went with the Clairion

I bought this because of the reviews it had vs the reviews for the Clarion CX501, which I have in another vehicle of mine. Big mistake.
1. just the looks of it in the dash, looks plain, almost down graded from the factory unit.
2. i don't think it compares to the Clarion in ease of
use and features.
3. I had read reviews about the Clarion having poor blue tooth reception. but then i found that the JVC unit did the same. It was the phone, not the receiver.
4. now 5 months old, the display went out and none of the controls work.
5. I should of bought another Clarion. :(

Pros:

Cons:

4 of 11 found this helpful

JVC KW-R900BT

I just installed the JVC KW-900BT stereo in my 2006 G6 and I am really glad I chose this model. The sound quality is powerful, clear and the user interface is easy to navigate for nearly all features. The Bluetooth features are great and work well with my iPhone 4S for streaming music and in making and receiving phone calls. I would recommend this unit for anyone looking for a great factory replacement, with a factory installed look, packed with quality features.

KW-R900BT

Instalation and wiring took a little over an hour and one call to tech support. I had a wire not accounted for in the instructions. It must be a common problem because when I described the problem the tech asked where the blue and ahite wire was connected. Works fine with a micro sd in a usb adapter. Scrolling through is a snap abd I have 7 gigs on the card. I haven't signed up for sat radio yet, maybe later.

Pros:

Cons:

2 of 2 found this helpful

Excellent!

The factory "Premium Sound" head-unit in my 2007 Honda Civic EX Coupe recently went berserk with LEDs flickering and changing radio station presets and sources at its own will. When the power button and volume knob developed a strange sort of possession, I decided it was time to just move on and replace it. A friend recommended this model and a conversation with a Crutchfield adviser (Dan, I believe) ended with a decision to purchase this receiver as the successor on the throne of my Civic's dash. I really like that both my wife and I can pair our phones when we're both in the car and make the lights turn different colors depending on whose phone is ringing. The bluetooth audio is easier to use than I expected. Overall, I really like this new unit and would recommend it highly to anyone looking for a new unit with lots of features that will not break the bank account in the process. After over a month of use, I'm still a very satisfied customer

Pros:Features, pairs with two phones at a time, easy to use, easy menu setup, plenty of power, nice crossover settings, custom button and screen colors, variety of dimming settings, plenty of cord on mic, good reception (AM/FM), plenty of power (amp-wise), looks good, easy to see and use, screen clarity, two USB ports (one used by bluetooth). plenty of screen brightness during the day, plays nicely with both of our Motorola Android smartphones (Atrix 4G and Atrix2)

Seamless with iPhone5

Installed this in my 2005 Infiniti G35 w/ Bose, using Metra 95-7605 panel and iDatalink Maestro steering wheel adapter. Fit well, with only minor bending of some tabs on the JVC bracket. I had to call Crutchfield with a few questions on wiring the supplied harness--yeah, there's plenty of soldering--but the answers were straightforward and the thing fired up on first try.
I bought this mainly for the Bluetooth hands-free calling and streaming music. Everything works perfectly with my iPhone5... even the front USB interface with the new lightning cable. Here's what really makes the system shine: I programmed the Maestro function for "voice dial" when I hold the PWR button down on the steering wheel. That brings up Siri, which lets you do just about ANYTHING on the phone purely with voice recognition, via the head unit's mic and speakers: calling from your phonebook, selecting a playlist, navigating, etc. I had been considering a Pioneer AppRadio, but with the iPhone5 integration so smooth on this JVC, I'm glad I bought this. Having nav on the iPhone screen mounted high on the dash is actually better, in my opinion, than having to look down at the head unit.
Everything else works great. Audio output is pristine; the factory "Bose" amp/speakers still sound good. Menus very easy to navigate. The custom colors are awesome... can make it look like OEM. Only minor gripe is the control dial, which feels just a little flimsy. We'll see how it holds up...

Pros:BT integration, intuitive menus, versatile colors

Cons:Slightly flimsy dial.

6 of 6 found this helpful

Piece of Junk

While this unit had "cool features" , mine has been nothing but problems. My first unit started giving me problems @ 3 months.(On start-up, one channel would delay coming on by about 2 seconds). Crutchfield was actually very helpful and sent me a replacement unit.It has now been 1 year and about 1 week since that 2nd unit arrived and the unit broke today completely. Crutchfield says the 1 year warranty starts on the day of the purchase of the 1st unit. (Cutting the warranty on the 2nd unit short by 3 months). Anybody else out there have a problem with a car stereo only lasting 1 year? This is the 2nd one that broke in a year so I bet Crutchfield knows about it, and they want to charge me to look at it and the repair could cost more. Don't buy this model!

Pros:Crutchfield customer support was good on the first unit.

Cons:Crutchfield customer support was HORRIBLE on the second unit.. They've just lost a customer.

4 of 15 found this helpful

Simply Amazing

I bought this radio for my wife, mainly to keep her from buying a visor mounted blue tooth speaker/mic for her phone. This head unit is amazing and now I want one too! Not only will it play our music via BT, thru the cars speaker system, it will pause it when a call comes in **From either of our phones**. Same goes for voice navigation, txt to voice messages... Anything! Its really impressive in my opinion. There are other HU's with the same functions but I got this one for the easy access presets. This JVC has large easy to press button that you wont even have to take your eyes off the road for. I previously only bought Sony's and I cant even figure out how to change the station on my best friends Pioneer and find the menu system in this very easy to understand. The display is easy to read and you wont have a lightshow going on while you're driving either. other reviewer have mentioned the high quality sounds to which I concur. Reception is amazing. I haven't compared side by side with my Sony but I think it pulls even more stations than mine does. The only difficult part was installing the mic; its remote and on a 12' cord and will reach just about anywhere. I mounted mine near the top of the cluster where you can't even see it sitting there under the lip of the dash. it works great too plus the HU has an gain setting for the mic as well as a separate volume settting for the BT audio stream.

Pros:everything.

Cons:none yet

3 of 3 found this helpful

2005 Ford Freestar retrofit

DH in NC from Davidson, NC on 6/22/2013

Wanted a receiver with iPod control, Bluetooth (hands-free phone and streaming audio) and aux input for my portable XM receiver. Got all of those in this receiver! Easy install with the kit provided. Bluetooth works great. Hands-free phone paired without problems and audio for calls (both sides of conversation) is solid. Streaming also solid. iPod controls work perfectly - filled up my old 3rd gen pod with tunes, hooked it up the glove box and I'm in business! I did add the KS-u58 J-Link adapter to the back of the unit to connect to my XM receiver - easy to do. Overall - looks good, sounds good. Display is only downside - could be bigger and brighter. Was only thing keeping me from giving 5 stars.

JVC KW-R900BT

The Radio does produce great sound the factory Bose system in my 2003 crew cab truck. This was the first time ever installing an aftermarket radio and thank goodness for the folks at Crutchfield. The info that comes with the JVC radio is not all that clear and many calls to Crutchfield got me squared away. The radio does pair very easily with the Bluetooth and I had some concern that the steering wheel controls would not function properly. Initially they didn't so I had to take the Axxess and hook it to a computer and get the latest updates downloaded which was not difficult at all and the steering wheel controls work great. It does take some time fiddling with the buttons to figure everything out but once you do a couple of set ups it becomes much easier. Getting the radio to fit nicely was a bit tough and I will have to pull the radio back out and try to get it better. I would say that you want to perhaps trying to take the sleeve off the radio .... it comes with attached but in the instructions it states you can remove to fit in vehicle. Anyone that puts this in a GM truck etc you will find only 2 primary wiring harness connections and the antennae to disconnect. What you have once you wire everything up to match up is a large bowl of spaghetti wires to back into the same space the OEM unit came out of. If you take out the air conditioner control module below the radio (3 screws) it will allow you reach under the radio and get the wires moved into the slots.

Pros:sounds great, Bluetooth works good, the usb front is great for music you have on a flash drive, looks good. display very visible during the day; lots of combo's to suit your vision; Tech Support and Customer service very supportive and patient for someone who struggled initially.

Cons:the overall color of the large knob is a bright silver which is in total contrast to the entire dash. JVC should provide a "pop-on" replacement for black.

7 of 7 found this helpful

JVC KW-R900BT

really?, Coolness Factor? is this high school? I have yet to take the time to dial in the sound , but all the adjustments seem to be available to get just the right sound. I need to reread the manual, so far I haven't been able to get it out of store display mode.

Everything I'd Hoped For

I purchased this unit for my 2012 F-250 and couldn't be happier. The sound is amazing , lots of features and color combinations. Installed with this product I also purchased the SiriusConnect SC-C1 unit with the JVC KS-SRA100 interface module. Connections were easy and all cables were included. I also installed a Directed 150 watt amp and 10" Cerwin Vega subwoofer in a proform cabinet. The sound is amazing. It took me a total of 3 1/2 hours from start to finish including the amp wiring but it was well worth it. The bluetooth paired up with my HTC Evo in about a miniute. I called Sirius to activate the unit and was up and running in ten minuites. once you take some time to familiarize yourself with the controls adjusting is a breeze. cool dispay with multiple configurations. I especially like that it has a clock that can be displayed in different ways. Crutchfield , your the best..

Pros:Display, Controls, Sound

Cons:None

2 of 2 found this helpful

Good Choice

Nice radio. Works well with my iPhone- I now listen to podcasts and music library without wires using the Bluetooth connection. FM and AM reception is excellent. Install was easy with the help of Crutchfield tech support- those guys are great! Overall the install experience with Crutchfield support was excellent.

Very Nice

Very nice radio. Has alot of future that take a bit to learn but well worth it. The sound is great.

Pros:Looks great in the rig I put it in.

Cons:

1 of 1 found this helpful

Easy Install

MarkM from Watertown, NY on 5/25/2013

Just installed this about two weeks ago into my 2005 Subaru WRX STi, replacing another after market radio. After taking care of the wiring, the radio went in very quickly, but I was not receiving FM/AM stations. What I determined is that there is a separate wire (blue/white stripe) coming from the radio that connects to pin 14 (blue wire) in the harness. So, be sure that if your car antenna requires additional power from the radio, you need to connect these. Other then that, programming took some time, but wasn't too bad. iPhone connected easily via bluetooth and very good call quality on both ends. Sound is amazing on my stock speakers, and this radio is a great improvement to my other after-market radio. I had thought about new speakers, but looks like all I needed was a better radio. The ability to change display/button colors is a nice feature...being able to match my instrument cluster lights. Looks good, sounds good, easy to use after you get the hang of it, and no complaints yet. My brother also bought this radio based on my recommendation, and he's a very picky/tech savvy person...that is saying something.

Pros:Sound is amazing on stock speakers

Cons:Complicated set-up at first

2 of 2 found this helpful

JVC KW-R900BT installed in 2005 Subaru Outback

Very happy with this head unit. I really like that the display gives all the info without scrolling unless the album or song title is to long. The Bluetooth works very well and has only failed to connect one time. I was able to shut the unit down, then power back up and it connected no problem. I have not been able to access the music menu from my iPhone while in in the Bluetooth mode which the manual says SHOULD be available depending on device. The menu is available when plugged into the USB port in iPod mode.
The sound is a great improvement from the stock head unit even before I installed new speakers. Factory preset EQs are nice plus being able to set my own. The three loudness settings add versatility also.
Installation was very straight forward with the instructions from Crutchfield and the manufacturer and was completed in about two hours.
The large buttons make this unit very easy to use while driving and navigation through the features is fairly easy once I became familiar with it.

Pros:Bluetooth works great, USB charges phone, display is visible even in bright sunlight, easy to use.

JVC KW-R900BT

Overall has a lot user options & features, the sound quality was improved from factory stereo even with factory speakers hooked up, has an excellent classic looking car stereo look to it without going overboard (which to me is like a touchscreen computer looking screen/I personally like the buttons on the faceplate), & I think this is one of the best car stereos on the market at the moment even with the extra cost (it's worth it).

JVC KW-R900BT

Crutchfield knocked this one out of the park, Customer Service, Tech Support was right now no scripts no manual to read from answers straight from their professional knowledge with no hesitation. All equipment and parts all there first time around. All I can say is this is the third time purchasing from Crutchfield and not one disappointment. I would recommend them over and over again with no regrets. GREAT JOB Crutchfield don't ever change just keep getting better.

Pros:All and more from the Crutchfield team quality products served up from quality folks

Very Nice

First of all I was after sound quality over anything else. The Burr-Brown 24-bit D/A Converter was a big selling point for me, also, at 20 watts RMS there is only 1% THD... Compared to the Pioneer I was looking at that was 5% THD at 20 watts RMS. Less THD, better sound, safer for your speakers. If you are using an external power amp I guess this doesn't matter, but for me running with no amp it does. Paired with some Focal speakers, there's plenty of clean power for my tastes.
I could have bought this somewhere else for a little cheaper, but help being a call away is priceless! You call, you get NO automated system, goes right to a tech and they know their stuff! Awesome, thanks guys!
ATTENTION Jeep Patriot owners...You only have to cut the top part of the factory bracket off. Leave the bottom part intact for support.

Great sound... awesome system!

Overall this is a great system. I read the review and was a bit skeptical with regards to the bluetooth capabilities and after the install I quickly realized that it's best if you don't have the phone in your pocket when attempting to use the BT capabilities. Seems silly but people complained about it... yet I simply take my phone out of my pocket, place it on the dash or the cup holder and have not had ANY issues with the BT connection. My wife loves it ... and that's good enough for me.

Pros:

Cons:

2 of 2 found this helpful

Great low cost receiver

We bought this receiver to replace the tired old stock CD player in my wife's minivan. We mostly wanted it for the Bluetooth calling capabilities and the front USB port,through which we plan to play a bunch of kids' books and music on a thumb drive. It has exceeded our expectations on both counts.
For the Bluetooth calling, we have been very pleased with both the incoming and outgoing sound quality in our so-far limited testing. A big bonus that we weren't expecting is that this unit "supports" our iPhones' Siri function. Pressing a button on the receiver invokes Siri, through the car's speakers, at which point we can get directions, or place calls, or do other Siri-powered things, all through the receiver's external mic. Really, really nice.
For playing music and books through the front USB port, we were pleased with the relative ease by which we can navigate to a specific tune or book. It's nowhere near as easy as on an iPhone or ipad, but given the restraints imposed by the small screen and limited controls, it does a pretty good job.
Other nice features: Pandora integration, even over Bluetooth. Radio timer, by which my wife can set the radio to switch to NPR every morning, automatically. Integrated with the steering wheel controls easily, through a third party (not included with the receiver) adapter.

great receiver!

I wanted to replace my factory stereo with something that had all the same features and found them in this unit! I couldn't be happier with the sound quality and with ease of use of the stereo! I did have to modify a little to get the unit into the dash but was easily done with a dremmel. This was my first attempt at installing myself and the Crutchfield team was fantastically patient with me and walked me through every question. Stereo came out sounding better than I had hoped! highly recommend this unit!

Pros:easy to use, great sound!

Cons:none so far!!

0 of 0 found this helpful

Great updgrae!

Replaced factory head unit in my 2012 Honda Civic with this radio. The sound quality and features make this a great buy. The bluetooth works perfectly and is crystal clear. I put the bluetooth adapter in the front USB and was able to route the rear USB cable in order to maintan my factory USB connection in the center console. This means no messy cables showing. The free wiring harness and installation kit made this sucker a breeze to install too. Only Crutchfield offers this. Their customer service is nothing less than top notch. I have factory speakers in the doors, and a set of 3 ways on the rear deck. Honestly, the factory speakers in the door sound better than the replacements I bought. I plan to repalce them all soon with some higher quality units.

Pros:BT is great. Sound quality rocks.

Cons:none

3 of 4 found this helpful

Great Head Unit!

Overall, I was very satisfied with the JVC KW-R900BT receiver. Once my future mother-in-law got a new car with a hands-free bluetooth calling feature, I have wanted to have a receiver with built in bluetooth, so I can make and receive calls safely when I'm traveling. After doing some research, I ended up with this model, and it turned out to be perfect for me. Before, I had the stock CD player, but I had a four channel amplifier and aftermarket speakers. The difference in sound quality between the stock CD player and the JVC KW-R900BT is night and day. My system overall sounds much better. I also tried the bluetooth calling feature, and it works very well overall. To me, the sound quality was good, but to the person on the other end of the line, they said it sounded good, but as if I were on speaker phone. In case you were wondering, I installed the bluetooth microphone on the center of the dashboard. Installation was a breeze, and the wiring harness, installation kit, and instructions given by Crutchfield are very helpful. In all, it took me almost as much time to solder all of the wires together as it took to install the receiver. If you are looking for a reasonably priced receiver with bluetooth built in, you should definitely consider this receiver.

Pros:Sound Quality, Bluetooth Built-In, Inexpensive compared to other models with similar features.

Cons:Bluetooth microphone could be smaller; perhaps even built into the unit. No touchscreen display (but for the price, does it really matter?).

1 of 1 found this helpful

Excellent Aftermarket Replacement

Very good unit for the price. I was looking to replace the factory unit in my 2003 Tahoe. Mainly wanted something that interfaced with my iPod Touch, allow me to keep my On Star service, and use my steering wheel controls, and sound as good as or better than my factory stereo. It met my needs plus has some cool extras. Love the ability to change the display colors to suit my mood. It interfaces very well with my iPod, and allows me to attach via a USB port on the front, or by Blue Tooth. I have the option to control the iPod via the stereo unit, or use my iPod to control. All the other functions that are advertised seem to work well. Blue Tooth connection was easy. Had to read the manual to figure out the EQ controls, but most other menu functions are self-explanatory.

Not quite perfect

For a different car, I was looking for a high sound quality head unit and had a lot of difficulty finding one. Manufacturers seem to rely more on features than sound quality. I bought this one for a convertible and in that application, sound quality is less important due to the high noise level making it difficult to hear the details anyway. Despite that, I believe it sounds better through the stock speakers than the stock radio due to the time alignment. Something else that seems to be missing from all aftermarket car radios is speed sensitive volume. I experienced this once and really liked it. I've never seen one since. It would be really handy in the convertible. Giving up on that, I only had one real criteria; a USB port to read music off of a flash drive. This one had two, one on front and back. Very nice. Changing the colors on the display was not necessary for me, but it is nice to have it, to match the dash lights in the car and it is well implemented in this head unit. I don't believe in talking on the phone while driving, so I cannot comment on the hands free microphone. Now that I have my USB connection, no automatic volume control on MP3 playback has become a huge issue. Included wiring adapters for my car made install easy. That was awesome.

Pros:Time alignment is super cool, you can hear the sound quality improve as you rotate the knob.
Pandora on an Android phone blue tooth connection is awesome.
Big knob in the middle with a quick mute is very nice.
Wide variety of lighting colors including day and night mode, is appreciated.
USB in front and back is awesome.

Cons:-I saw a radio (Pioneer I think) that would correct the volume playback between MP3 tracks that were wildly different. This has become a huge issue for me. Despite using a normalization program on my digital music, I still find myself reaching for the volume knob as I am continually blown away by or unable to hear a track. Very annoying and probably my biggest issue with this radio. I didn't think it would be a big deal, but it is.
-Tuning the radio, not using scan is not intuitive at all.

4 of 4 found this helpful

so far so good

I have only had the stereo installed for 2 weeks, and so far it has delivered nearly everything as promised. I have an iphone 5 and the radio controls work great when the phone is plugged into the front USB, however when I am using the phone with bluetooth, I can only operate itunes with the phone controls, not the radio controls... (This may be operator error, however I have yet to find a fix.) I need to also mention, I had trouble installing the radio. The removal of the old stereo from my 06 tundra was easy. But, because I was also installing steering wheel controls and another device so I could use my factory amp, I was terribly confused. I made several calls to tech support and the the first 4-5 calls were fine. Each techie helped a bit. At the end of my rope, with my head buried in my hands and my tail tucked between my legs, I called and spoke with Mike (I am about 90% sure that is his name. I wrote it down so I could leave a favorable review, but I recently cleaned out my truck, and the sheet of paper is gone. I am genuinly disappointed I can't confirm his name.) He was AWESOME!!! He stayed on the phone with me for nearly an hour and walked me through wiring the 3 units correctly. Then he gave me the number for his direct line so I could recontact him with further questions, which I did. And he was just as helpful the second time. Thanks!!

Pros:bluetooth, sort-of stock look, fits, sound great

Cons:unable to use itunes menus with bluetooth

2 of 2 found this helpful

JVC KW-R900BT

Bought this unit primarily for use with iphone 5 and bluetooth handsfree. Wow, great improvement of sound in my 2000 E-150. The instructions were clear, but wish that I did not have to modify the dash to preclude reinstallation of factory radio. The use of Ipod and streaming oldies over the iphone is great. The menu tree is confusing to old guys like me, but if you keep the owners manual nearby you can get it to do everything that is advertised.

Pros:Does everything that is advertised. Could not be more pleased. Great Value

Great Head unit!

Awesome head unit with plenty of features. Bluetooth audio streaming and phone calls work great with android phone. USB feature is awesome as well (as others have noted, it does take a minute or so to read the USB. I have 60 GB worth of music on mine and it takes a while to load but works flawlessly after that) If you don't care about a touchscreen or a huge display, this is a GREAT head unit. Installed in an 03 silverado... I did NOT have to remove the metal support bracket.

Pros:Sound, features, ease of use, value

Cons:only complaint is that the display can be hard to read during the day... easily fixable though, just switch to a brighter color.

JVC Head Unit Review

Extremely satisfied with this head unit. It's really the first stereo upgrade I've ever done on a car, and I'm glad I chose this. I was looking for a unit that included lots of features like iPod connectivity, Bluetooth, HD radio, and also had an attractive, almost OEM look. This JVC unit is great. Good sound quality as far as this amateur can tell, very easy to use, and with great lighting customization. Looks great in my Miata. If I was going to improve anything, it would be slightly higher quality feeling buttons and a microphone that could be placed somewhere inconspicuous and still receive sound well. Otherwise, superb stereo with lots of features, solid sound, and a decent price.

Works great & easy install w/wiring harness!

Good sound system all around, only sound that is slightly weak compared to others is on public radio stations. It's awesome playing music from iPod or CD, and has good sound from radio just not as loud as from iPod or CD. Looks right in my 1989 Toyota Supra since we matched the colors on the radio to the dash colors, only thing is that it is a glossy face instead of a more mat finish to it. Overall I am very impressed and my husband was very impressed with how easily the wiring harness made the install and yet it still looks very sanitary. Once you go through the manual and set it up it is easy to use, but it takes a little time to get the initial setup.

Pros:Great sound in most applications, for me I don't even need to buy an amp to boost it at all.

Cons:When playing off of local radio stations sound is good but weaker volume, you might need an amp to boost output if this is how you normally listen to your stereo.

JVC KW-R900BT CD receiver

I purchased this unit based on my research and other reviews and this unit is a great bang for the buck. I rate this unit with 4 1/2 stars only because of 1 issue which is under cons.

Pros:The unit is very user friendly. Pairing my wife's and I iPhones was so simple . Streaming music and answering calls works very well and I'm impressed.
Another feature that I really like is the various colors that the unit has to match up with your dashboard .

Cons:I have only 1 negative review on this unit. When your phone is paired and you turn off the ignition, once you get back in the unit takes a while before it reconnects with your phone. I have waited up to 3 min to get re connected .

3 of 3 found this helpful

Great for a 2003-2006 Honda CRV

Chrono807 from Schenectady, NY on 8/26/2012

I installed the following in my CRV EX:
The JVC KW-R900BT An Alpine KTP-445u Powerpack Pioneer TS-A1604 component sets front and rear
I mounted the front woofers in the factory door location, with the tweeters in the factory dash location. Rear woofers are in the factory door location, with extra holes added to the top/front corner of each door for the tweeters (flush mount). Bluetooth mic is in the blank switch panel below the shifter (I drilled a 1 1/2" hole in the blank). Crossovers are set to off on the Alpine amp, and 60hz with a 12db/octave cutoff on the deck.
It's not high-end audiophile sound but it fulfilled 100% of my needs - to add some kick, Bluetooth, and iPod support to the car without compromising its usefulness as a hauler. No subs... No amps under seats... I kept those things completely off limits in my search. The Bluetooth doesn't echo.
If you have a Honda, beware - there are two wires on the Metra harness, "illumination" (orange) and "dimmer" (orange/white). You need to crimp the orange wire into the JVC harness orange/white in order for night mode to work.

Pros:Supports iPod playlists, artists, and albums
5 volt RCA pre-outs = stellar sound quality
Has a "night mode" where the screen dims, switches to black background with colored lettering, and can even change color when you turn the headlights on.
Bluetooth is clear and echo-free
Double-DIN design looks awesome in my CRV

Cons:Aside from the fact that the radio takes about 10 seconds to read the iPod when you start the car (vs about 5 seconds with the factory radio in my Civic Si), I have no cons to report. It is a minor inconvenience, not a problem, and the only time I really notice it is if I have been parked listening to music and then start the car (because it goes silent while the deck re-reads the iPod).
Trust me, I'm very picky - it's a great radio.

13 of 14 found this helpful

JVC KW-R900BT

Replaced a 6 cd/mp3 factory radio in a F150 that still has 6 cds inside. (May need a larger hammer). Unit works very well. The USB port is great. Put all oldies on thumb drive and the need for 6 cds is gone. Had a little trouble with the kit until I figured out to cut some of the parts off with saw. Piece of cake after that. Fits like a glove.

Love This Unit

I bought this unit 5 months ago to replace the factory unit in my 2005 Mercury Montego.
I shopped a lot of units in many places. This unit had everything I was looking for at a price that I found very affordable. Even the installation was fairly simple.
I found some cool features inside that I didn't know it had, like fine tuning the speakers based on your seating position so it sounds "even" (essentially makes it sound like you are sitting in the middle of the car, not close to the drivers speaker and far from the others).
It even comes with a little remote...

Great unit!

This unit was a replacement for the original stereo in my 08 Honda Ridgeline. What an improvement. Called Crutchfield a couple times with what was important to me and was guided to the JVC. Worth every penny.

Pros:Simple installation, Crutchfield includes everything you need included the best, friendliest tech support you will find.

Cons:None

5 of 5 found this helpful

JVC KW-R900BT

JVC is known for quality; this unit is no different. I had to have a receiver with Bluetooth and worked with my steering wheel controls. Having 2 USB hookups is very convenient. I used the front for the BT adaptor because I already had a USB cable run from the rear to my center console for a flash drive. I'm still learning the controls, but so far everything seems very intuitive and user friendly. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this receiver.

Pros:All the controls are easy to use.

Cons:Display is a little smaller than I expected, but with 3 lines it gives plenty of info.

5 of 5 found this helpful

"Pleased"

Install was easy with Crutchfield's sheets, took about 1 hour ( most of that was soldering harnesses ) Enjoy radio's features, but hard to read display in sunlight. The powered factory subwoofer goes "THWAPPP every time I start the SUV, but that is not the radio's fault, I am researching a fix for it

Pros:Price and lot of features

Cons:display is unreadable in sunlight

3 of 3 found this helpful

Feature Packed!

This is my first JVC product and I'm impressed. You can't beat this HU for features, ergonomic and sound quality. The infinately adjustable display and button colors is a great and fun feature.If you're looking for high quality sound, look no further. This unit really packs a punch and makes your mp3's sound better than they should. You can either take the time to explore its numerous audio settings or let the Easy feature do it for you. either way, the results are amazing.

JVC KWR900BT... Great Value

I installed the JVC KWR900BT into my 2002 Mazda Protege to replace the non-functional stock radio. The installation was made easy because Crutchfield included the wiring harness for my car and instructions for everything. This deck has far exceeded me expectations. I've found that the pre-amped channels provide more than enough power to my speakers. I installed the Rockford Fosgate Punch P1683 5x7 speakers in the front doors and the JBL GT6-69 6x9 speakers in the rear deck. The JVC deck has optimized the potential of these speakers and my car sounds great. I especially like the rear USB cable which I ran into my glove box where I connect my iPod. It stays completely concealed and works flawlessly while charging my iPod at the same time.

Pros:THE PRICE!
The truly customizable equalizer.
Three easy to read lines of text.
The color and brightness will adjust between night and day.
The clock sets itself.
The rear USB cable.
The over sized buttons make navigating features easier.

Cons:In order to access the menu, you need to hold the menu button for 3 seconds. This would be better if you didn't have to hold it.

4 of 4 found this helpful

Great Sound and Performance

Installed the KW-R900BT in my 2006 Xterra in order to gain Bluetooth phone, iOS device, and Aux input capabilities. Replaced the Rockford-Fosgate OEM unit that did have very good audio quality. New unit sounds at least as good if not better. Highly configureable audio settings. Works well with the R-F amp and sub-woofer. Several issues installing it in the Xterra. RCA line out sockets on the radio are located in a position that puts them very close to an air duct bracket that causes interference with the RCA connectors on the Crutchfield supplied harness. I obtained 90 degree adapters from Monoprice for about 50 cents each and was able to make it fit. Then encountered ground loop problem that resulted in a loud POP when turn off the radio or the ignition. I contacted Crutchfield tech help and they sent me some filters that solved the problem.

Reproduces the music the way it should sound

I was really impressed with the quality of the sound I got from my iPhone. The original radio left my tunes sounding flat. This unit brought new life to the tunes. I love the new life this unit gives my favorite song. It allows you to custom tune your music until it matches your style.

Pros:Easy to install and sounds great

Cons:Display hard to read in bright sunlight

3 of 3 found this helpful

JVC KW-R900BT

I installed this in my 2005 Chevy Silverado. This is a nice unit that pulls all of the digital sources I have together. I love the streaming Pandora via blue-tooth but sometimes I have to disconnect and reconnect for it to work - which is inconvenient but not a deal breaker. I did have to modify the GM Kit that shipped with the unit and ended up using the frame and trim ring from the head-unit screwed to the mounting pieces from the GM Kit(which I had to cut) with the supplied screws from the JVC. In other words, I did not use the GM kit as intended but did end up using the side flanges to secure the unit to the dash. I did not have to remove the bracket from behind the stock radio in my installation.
The variable display will switch to the default colors momentarily when you enter the various menus which is quirky but at least you are aware that you are in a menu and not the main screens. All in all a great value. I would recommend this to a friend.

Cons:Had to modify the mounting kit to make it fit with this unit in my 2005 Silverado. With the side tabs and the JVC bracket and trim ring the fit and look are nearly factory - good results would have preferred not to have to ignore the instructions and find my own way.

6 of 6 found this helpful

pretty sick!

this headunit is pretty awsome. Easy to use with just 10 mins of fooling around with it i got my music tuned in perfectly for my car. It also made my factory speakers sound more clear and crisp. great buy for the price!

Sound Quality

I have high end after market speakers (HERTZ) front componet, rear coaxile, 10" sub with a 5 ch. Kenwood amp. I replaced my factory deck and WOW! this deck brings out the quality of my speakers way above expectation. I dig the variety of illuminations and the 5 band eq. I have not paired my bluetooth yet but i'm cofident it will meet my expectations.

I like my JVC

I hve enjoyed JVC decks in the past and this on is no acception. The mutiple lines of text are a must for the digital music fan. Very easy to install (thanks to Cructhfield), fairly simple to use. A few features will take some reading to master.

Good Product

Overall I really like this unit. It has pretty much all the features I was looking for, makes the stock speakers sound much better. I don't really use the blue tooth, but having two USB ports is really useful. It's pretty easy to set up and installing was easy with Crutchfield's instructions and wiring harness. iPod interface is nice, and the unit looks pretty factory in my car which is what I was going for.

Pros:Looks good, works well

Cons:Controls could be more simple

2 of 2 found this helpful

What a deal stereo!!

I bought this stereo for my wife as an early Mother's Day gift...she loves it!! It replaced the stock unit in our '09 Pathfinder. Installation was super easy. Crutchfield does it right providing instructions and all adapters for your specific vehicle. It only took me about an hour and half from start to finish...most of the time spent soldering the wiring harness together (recommend soldering, not crimping). Setup was a snap with the easy to follow product directions. Sound is better then the stock unit, but limited with the stock speakers. Only takes a few seconds for the unit to automatically connect to your bluetooth device. iHeartradio, Pandora, and media player connected by bluetooth from my Droid and iPod connected by front USB is controlled by the head unit. Color display was changed to nearly perfectly match my interior lighting. I have had good luck with JVC in the past and they did not disappoint with this one. Have a JVC unit in my pickup that I bought over 10 years ago. Lets hope this one is just as good, so far it is. I highly recommend this unit!!

JVC KW-R900BT

I love this stereo! I originally had a JVC KW XR810 which would have been this model's predecessor, but after only 2 years of owning it, it just went crazy and stopped working. I was wary of buying another JVC but I loved its features so much I bought another JVC. I originally replaced it with the model below this, the r800BT, but exchanged it for this because this has the digital screen and the 800 is analog which I didn't realize. I have a Droid RAZR, and the bluetooth streaming functionality is great. I love that it displays the song info on the stereo screen. The Pandora functionality is awesome, too. You can not only control tracks through the stereo, but you can also turn Pandora on or off, view track info, and give it thumbs up or down! I also love that you can set the colors you want, including changing them from day to night (which includes switching the contrast so that at night the screen is black with lit lettering making it easier on the eyes). I have Sirius installed as well and that works fine. Sound quality is awesome, much better than my factory stereo was. I am trading in my car unexpectedly and decided to leave this stereo in the car because of the hassle to switch it back to the factory radio, but I love it so much I am ordering a new one to put in my new car!

Great Performance and Feature Set

I purchased the JVC KW-R900BT to replace my factory head unit from my 2003 Nissan 350Z. My wants were: Dual-Din unit that had bluetooth telephone and audio capabilities, USB charging (cell phone), and 3 sets of high power pre-outs for the amp. I was also looking for something I could adjust the HU color to match my orange lighted interior.
I installed the JVC three days ago and I have been very pleasantly surprised since then. Installation was very simple. The included dash kit (Metra I think) fit very well. I did have to remove the center divider, but that was done in five minutes with a simple utility knife. Wiring and installation was easy.
Sound quality is great, I was able to reduce my amp gain to 0 because of the high voltage pre-outs. Adjusting the sound stage is still a work in progress, but that's because there are so many options, I'm still learning them all.
Bluetooth works really well. Connects to my Motorola Atrix 4G very quickly, initially pairing was easy. I'm able to control the unit with the JVC app. Calls come in quickly and easily. Call sound quality is very good. Phonebook transferred before I knew it. Audio streaming from Pandora to JVC works well, but doesn't send station or song data. It does allow for song skipping via the HU - which is nice. Front USB has 1amp output for charging my Atrix (normal 550amp chargers can't keep up if screen is on).
CD playback very good, and no skipping (Z has stiff suspension).

Pros:Bluetooth works well. Sound quality is very good with many options and adjustments. Pre-Outs powerful enough for 0 amp gain. CD playback is good quality. Connection to Android phone and Pandora playback/control is very good. Installation was very easy - Crutchfield supplied parts worked great. Display color adjustable with many options, can see HU display through polarized sunglasses.

Cons:HU surface is high-gloss = fingerprint magnet. In direct sunlight, the display can be more difficult to read, but no worse than factory HU display. Wish Android Pandora would display song info on HU.

JVC Radio

I installed this radio in a 2008 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. It is OUTSTANDING! The radio picks up many more FM stations than the stock model I replaced. The bluetooth phone capability works great! The settings allow for an incredible number of alternatives to customize the radio. It is no comparison to the stock radio. I can't believe it does not cost a lot more than it does!

Pros:Flexibility, Bluetooth, FM reception, Sound is GREAT

Cons:none

0 of 1 found this helpful

Great Unit

I am really impressed with this unit! I have the display and button lighting matching the '04Tahoe lighting. The bluetooth is great. I use it for my iphone and ipod touch. After you learn to use it, perty simple. Sound quality for the iphone is great on incoming calls and no echo effect. I don't think it is as loud as my factory Bose unit. Overall I am satisified with my purchase. Crutchfield saved me app. 400.00 over having a shop install.

Love it

Sounds great. Fits in the dash of my 1996 Nissan Pickup and does a great job of controlling the speakers and the sub.

Pros:Colors, sound, aesthetics.

Cons:Audio options like HP/LP and fade/balance/EQ are a bit buried in the menu system, i think it should be a one button access thing because it tends to be tweaked a lot. It isn't hard to use, it is just time consuming.

very good awesome!!!!

this thing sounds great i am useing the preouts only with an rf 250 to a pair of jl audio 6x8 and the sub out to a jl jx 1000 and a 12w32ohm sub this thing kicks butt sounds great theonly thing i can say bad is read the manual ounceyou do that and get things dialed in it sounds great went thru sevaral with crutchfield and ended up loveing this one i wouldnt hesitate i purchased the kenwood kdc-x395 before this and well it was ok but this one really drives the amps and its very clean sounding with all music even the radio and cd sound great with out readjusting every thing thanks crutchfield for the easy returns and the hassle free of exchangeing diffrent radios thanks iwouldnt shop any where else been with these guys since late 90s thank u thank u

Pros:great sound love the feature where you can turn main speakers off and just use preouts GREAT!!

Cons:LEARNING IT BUT WITH ALL SHE CAN DO WHAT ELSE CAN THEY DO!!

3 of 5 found this helpful

Exactly what I needed!

I was looking for a good double din stereo for my 07 Tacoma. I didn't need a DVD player or a touch screen. I did require a useable 5 band EQ. That was paramount and this stereo delivered! The USB port is great for my IPod and the sound through my factory speakers is great! If you're looking for a stereo that gives you the ability to be 21st Century but have a 20th Century taste in car audio and want a fair priced unit then this is the unit for you. The ability to change the display and button backlight color is awesome too! I've only had this for a week, but it seems I made the right choice.

Pros:Price, features, look, overall sound quality.

Cons:None so far!!

2 of 2 found this helpful

Very happy with purchase

This stereo was very easy to install. I got lucky and all of the wires color-matched with the factory wires on my '09 Nissan Frontier. The installation parts included from Crutchfield worked great and made the job easy. Very easy to use. The Bluetooth feature works great with my Windows Phone for reading text messages and making calls. There are many adjustments to make that can improve the sound quality; speaker distance, EQ, Loudness, etc. Changing them made a big difference in the sounds quality so take the time to configure these after installation.

Pros:Sounds much better than the OEM stereo. Works great with music stored on a flash drive.

Cons:Volume knob seems to be on a flimsy shaft. It easily moves side to side. Not a problem now but I am wondering if it will become one.

2 of 2 found this helpful

Plenty of Power

I like to listen to a wide variety of music. Last year I upgraded the speakers in my Honda Accord. This year I wanted to get a head unit that worked with my iPhone 4. I chose this JVC unit because of the on-board 24bit Burr/Brown D/A converters, they cost a bit more, but you always pay for quality. I am really impressed with the sound quality. I would never have thought that my iPhone would sound this good! Really. I was also concerned that any standard in dash head unit would not have enough power to play music loud enough for my tastes and that I would need to add an amp to get the mirrors shakin. nope. No worries. This JVC is more than loud enough. Installation was really easy, After joining the connectors that came from Crutchfield, it took me less than 45 minutes to have the car apart, old out, new in and back together again. The Bluetooth microphone took another 20minutes to install and test.

Pros:Works great with iPhone4, Lots of power, Hands free calling and Bluetooth work well. Burr/Brown 24bit D/A converters make the music shine.

Cons:You will need to read the manual a couple of times to get the feel for all the features. EQ, Time Alignment, and Loudness settings are complex and have some overlapping features. It takes some time to get dialed in correctly.

2 of 2 found this helpful

Good value

Good radio overall very big upgrade over stock. I will be changing this out and installing in another car I wanted but could. Of afford a unit with GPS this time. Kids love the lights being able to change lol and they think it's funny to swipe the remote and change the volume while I'm driving.

Pros:Bluetooth good volume range would have been nice to be able to hide the conector cable for the iPhone not a huge deal though.

Cons:When you connect the cable to the iPhone it changes input and looks for music I would rather have to tell it I am ready to listen to the iPod or Pandora

1 of 9 found this helpful

Very pleased - met or surpassed all expectations

While not necessarily an "audiophile" per se, sound quality is very important to me and I have had very nice aftermarket stereos in all of my vehicles for well over the last 10 years. Looking to begin the upgrade process in my 2011 Subaru Legacy, I wanted a non-nav/DVD double-DIN receiver with superior sound-shaping capabilities. After shopping around for a couple of weeks, the 5-band EQ, time alignment, adjustable crossovers, and preamp flexibility of this one fit the bill.
The install was easy and navigating the menus and making changes is easy enough, and it is made easier by having the manual in hand the first time through. The jump in sound quality immediately following installation was a bit surprising, and while my stock speakers sound 1000% better I am looking forward to changing them out. I opted to leave the Bluetooth adapter attached to the rear USB port (comes with a hardwired USB cable in that position) and mounted the mic inside of the front of my dash; the sound quality of both is excellent. At first I felt the EQ was a bit weak (adjustments not effective), but after correcting the time on all of my speakers and getting a soundstage that was pleasing to my ear, the EQ became much more effective.
Overall, as the title says I am very pleased with my purchase and would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone else with similar needs.

Pros:Ease of use, adjustable colors, sound-shaping options, not ugly.

Cons:Bluetooth an attachment and not built in, must remember to save all settings by clicking the knob before leaving the screen. screen can be a bit tough to see in certain angles of sunlight.

5 of 5 found this helpful

Very good so far

I installed this JVC receiver in a 2006 WRX to replace the factory radio which had no Bluetooth. I have been waiting to get a receiver with Pandora Bluetooth streaming for very long and was worried about the quality of the sound. For the price, I was not expecting much from the streaming and Bluetooth calling quality. However, for my surprise the sound quality is pretty good even with the Bluetooth streaming. I still have the factory speakers, so I can't comment regarding how good this can sound with a good set of speakers and a good amplifier. But compared to the factory radio, it is a big improvement in sound.
I tried to put the Bluetooth cable as close to my cell phone as possible to avoid any connection problems. It is now about 10 inches from the cell phone hidden below the center console and I have no problems with the connection.
As for the microphone, it is in the rear view mirror and call quality seems to be much better than I expected. In fact it beats my friends Lexus factory BT by miles. Maybe he is doing something wrong with his iPhone because this is something I didn't expect at all.
Anyways, so far I am very pleased with this purchase.

Pros:Everything seems to be better than expected, so far.

Cons:The color of the radio doesn't match with my dash. But that is a problem with all the aftermarket radios, not just this one.
The buttons in the top right corner are glossy and look like painted. Hopefully they wont loose the paint.
Sometimes, the JVC android app takes a while to connect. But Pandora connects very fast, its just the JVC remote control app.

2 of 2 found this helpful

Huge learning curve, both worth it.

I installed this receiver in my 2005 VW Passat TDI. Physical installation is a snap. It took me about 2 hours, with a call to Crutchfield tech support to confirm a couple of details. I chose to use the JVC install trim, simply because it is easier to remove the unit. I'll install the more permanent trim ring in a few weeks. I plan to install satellite radio adapter, and a powered sub. Unit removal is next to impossible if the after market trim is used. The challenge with this unit is learning all the features, and there are many. You will need to update the software, an update is available at the JVC website. While your at the website, download a preferred music sample. You'll need it to tweak the sound setting later. Pairing the bluetooth with my Blackberry, was easy. Getting it to work, was more of a challenge. Most of the issues involved changing the settings on my phone. Once the phone was tweaked, I was able to stream Pandora, but without song info. A re-read of the instructions tells me to push button 3 on the station selector. I did, and volia the information appears on the screen. The speaker size needs to be set, the distance from the speakers to you needs to be set as well, along with the power you want to use for the speakers. Display colors are endless. I spent some time, matching the colors to the existing on the Passat. The look is not overpowering, looks like a factory install, which is what I wanted. Sound quality with factory speakers is outstanding

Pros:Great sound, good look, a lot of features

Cons:A lot to learn, but worth it. Spend some time reading the manual.

4 of 5 found this helpful

Great Unit!

I just bought and installed this Head Unit because the stock one in my Pathfinder 'died' (after all the radio was fine, the issue was within the speakers), and honestly I underestimated it. Please note that I'm not into car audio, so I wasn't looking for anything otherworldly. The sound quality is pretty darn good (except on the Bluetooth call mode). Since I have just had this for 2 days, I can't really comment about the quality control/reliability but seems built pretty tough. It's fairly easy to use, but could be a little bit easier

Audio Section

MOSFET Amplifier: The KW-R900BT is equipped with a MOSFET
amplifier. Compared to conventional power supplies, the MOSFET amplification
circuit is smaller and more efficient, and it delivers increased power with less
distortion and absolutely zero on/off switching noise. More power means louder
and cleaner music at higher volumes because you're not pushing the limits of the
amplification circuit.

CEA2006 Compliant: The power specifications for the KW-R900BT
are compliant with the CEA2006 Mobile Amplifier Power Testing and Measurement
standards from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). These standards were
developed as a way to equitably compare power specs from model to model and
between manufacturers. The power output specs for the KW-R900BT are as follows:

5V/6CH Preamp Output: The KW-R900BT is equipped with three
pair of 5V gold-plated preamp outputs (Front/Rear/Subwoofer). The front & rear preamp
outputs offer balance/fade control and are designed to hookup to a full-range
4-channel amplifier. The subwoofer preamp output is non-fading and designed to
hookup to a mono-block subwoofer amplifier. You can adjust the head unit's
subwoofer level between 0 and 8, as well as the subwoofer phase
(normal/reverse).

Amplifier Gain Control: When you
are using the KW-R900BT with factory speakers (or those rated to less than 50
watts peak), the Amplifier Gain Control can limit the amount of power being sent
to those speakers. When the Amp Gain Control is set to "low," the volume control
ranges from 0 (minimum) to 30 (maximum). When using speakers rated higher than
50 watts peak, you can set the Amp Gain Control to "high," and the volume
control will range from 0 to 50.

Volume Adjust: The input level of each source (other than FM) is
adjustable relative to the FM radio volume, so there isn't a significant volume
difference when changing sources. Each source is individually adjustable from -5
to +5.

My Sound EQ: The My Sound EQ features lets you customize your
car audio system's sound by listening to test tones in five frequencies (All,
Low, Middle, Middle-High, High), each represented by a different type of
instrument. You can adjust the level of each frequency between -9 to +9. You can
save up to 3 My Sound EQ Profiles (Sound 1/2/3) for easy recall. You can also
download sample music (instruments) in various genres for the My Sound EQ
function from the JVC mobile website onto a USB thumbdrive.

Source Link EQ: This feature allows you to store the head
unit's Preset EQ or 5-band EQ settings for each source (CD, AM/FM, Aux, USB,
iPod, Bluetooth, and Pandora).

DSP Control: In order to optimize the sound quality, you can
use the head unit's DSP control to set the type of vehicle, your seated
position, and speaker size, distance, & x-over points. The DSP settings include
the following:

Seated Position: For a better sound-stage you can
select your optimal listening position. You can choose from All, Front
Left, Front Right or Front.

Time Alignment: You can manually fine tune the sound
stage by selecting the distance for each individual speaker in the vehicle
compared to your listening position. You can select between 1.6-16.4' for
the Left Front Speaker, Right Front Speaker, Left Rear Speaker, Right Rear
Speaker, and Subwoofer.

Speaker Crossover: You can choose between an Easy
crossover setup or Pro (custom) crossover setup for your audio system.

Easy: The speaker X'over is automatically set when
the size of each speaker is select from the following items.

Loud (Loudness): This feature boosts low and high
frequencies to produce a well-balanced sound at a low volume level. The Loudness
features has four settings (1, 2, 3, or off).

Key-Touch Tone: The in-dash head unit provides an audible
beep to confirm button operation. This function can be turned On or Off.

Built-in Bluetooth

USB Bluetooth Adapter: The JVC KW-R900BT comes supplied with
a USB Bluetooth Adapter (KS-UBT1) which is pre-installed into the head unit's
rear-panel USB input, making the KW-R900BT Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR certified. The
KW-R900BT supports Bluetooth hands-free communication and wireless audio
streaming. The USB Bluetooth Adapter (KS-UBT1) must remain
plugged into the rear-panel USB port, or can also be installed in the head
unit's front-panel USB port.

Bluetooth Technology: Bluetooth is a two-way wireless
communication system allowing you to make and receive phone calls wirelessly
from your Bluetooth enabled mobile phone, as well as wirelessly stream audio
from your Bluetooth enabled portable music player using the JVC in-dash
multimedia receiver. Bluetooth wireless technology operates on a 2.4GHZ
frequency band within a range of approximately 10 meters (about 33 feet).

Bluetooth Profiles: In order to use Bluetooth wireless
technology, your phone must also be Bluetooth compatible and be able to
interpret certain profiles. This unit is compatible with the following Bluetooth
Profiles:

Pairing: Your Bluetooth enabled mobile phone or digital
audio player must be paired with KW-R900BT before hands-free & wireless
operation. You can register up to five Bluetooth enabled devices with the JVC
head unit. You can keep two phones connected at all times (only one can be used
during a call).

Note: Due to the differences in Bluetooth technology,
some Bluetooth enabled devices may be incompatible, function improperly, or
may not support all features when used with the JVC head unit. See
JVC's Bluetooth compatibility chart for a complete list of compatible
Bluetooth enabled devices.

External Microphone: The JVC KW-R900BT includes an external
microphone to carry on your side of your phone conversation and voice command
dialing. The external wired microphone offers improved audio quality versus an
integrated microphone, so you can be heard easier over noisy traffic and road
noise. You can adjust the level of the microphone without affecting the other
sources. The external microphone features an attached 12' cable terminated by a
right-angle 3.5mm connector which plugs into the mic input on the rear-panel of
the head unit. The microphone offers an integrated mounting bracket which can be
clipped to your vehicle's sun-visor or taped to your dash. The external microphone
measures 0.525" (diameter) x 1.485" (depth). This unit does not offer an
integrated front-panel microphone.

Bluetooth Hands-Free Communication: The head unit supports
Bluetooth hands-free communication for your Bluetooth enabled mobile phone. The
front-panel controls of the KW-R900BT can be used to dial a number, answer an
in-coming call, or end a call. The unit also features an external microphone
(featuring adjustable gain), so you can carry on your side of the conversation
while listening to the caller through your vehicles speakers (front or all).
During a conversation, you can switch between the Private Mode (talking directly
on your cell phone) and the Hands Free Mode.

Answering A Call: When a call comes in, a ring-tone
will be heard through your vehicle's speaker, the head unit's display will
flash (Ring Color), and the caller's name or phone number will be displayed.
You can answer the call from the KW-R900BT's front-panel controls, or setup
the head unit to automatically answer the incoming call. You can adjust the
head unit's ring color from the unit's 29 preset colors or 30,000 custom
colors.

Dialing A Number: Using the KW-R900BT, you can dial a
phone number in one of the following ways:

Entering a Phone Number: Allows you to directly
dial a phone number up to 32 digits from the head unit's front-panel
rotary dial.

Speed Dialing: You can store up to 6 contacts in
the memory of this head unit for speed dialing.

Phone Book: You can dial by using the downloaded
phone book. You can download phone book data from your cell phone to the
KW-R900BT. If you phonebook contains a lot of contact numbers, you fast
search (+/-10, 100, or 1000) through the phonebook by using the unit's
control dial. You can also do an A-Z search to scroll the downloaded
phonebook. Up to 5,000 numbers can be stored for each registered cell
phone. Each number can be up to 32 digits long.

Call Log: The Call Log is a list of calls that have
originated from and were received by this unit that you can dial. You
can select Outgoing, Incoming, or Missed calls (up to 50 each).

Voice Dialing: If your mobile phone supports voice
recognition, then you can dial out by voice command. Simply speak into
the included microphone.

Message Notice: The JVC KW-R900BT will ring and display "RCV
Message" to alert you of an incoming text message from your connected Bluetooth
enabled mobile phone. You will still need to view the text message from your
phone, as well as create and send text messages from your phone.

Wireless Audio Streaming: The JVC KW-R900BT also supports
wireless audio playback (AD2P) and control (AVRCP) of a Bluetooth enabled audio
player or smartphone. The KW-R900BT will be able to control basic playback
functions of your Bluetooth device's stored music; such as Play/Pause, Skip
Next/Previous, and Fast Forward/Rewind. The head unit will also display your
stored music's song information; such as Song/Album title and Artist name. The KW-R900BT
also supports audio streaming of music apps (such as
iHeartRadio,
SiriusXM,
Rhapsody, &
Slacker), but without control or metadata. You will continue to use
your Bluetooth enabled smartphone to view and control streaming music apps.

Note: When an incoming call or outgoing call is in
progress from your Bluetooth enabled mobile phone, audio streaming will be
paused so you can take your call. Once the call is finished, your streaming
music will resume.

Pandora App

Pandora Internet Radio Control: The JVC KW-R900BT CD receiver
lets you playback and control the Pandora Internet Radio music
service that is being streamed to your Apple iPhone, Android smartphone, or
BlackBerry. While providing control over the Pandora music service, the
KW-R900BT also displays Artist, Album, and Song information. You can select
Pandora stations from your station list; you can sort the station list by date
or alphabetically (A-Z). You can also skip song tracks within a station. In
addition, you can also give songs a thumbs up/down and bookmark songs/artists.

Note: Access to the Pandora service will depend on the
availability of a cellular and/or WiFi network for purposes of allowing your
iPhone or smartphone to connect to the Internet.Pandora is not supported in
Canada and only available in the United States.

Pandora App for iPhone: The JVC KW-R900BT lets you playback
and control Pandora Internet Radio streamed to your connected Apple iPhone, via
the USB/iPod connector cable (included with your iPhone). To access Pandora you
must have an Apple iPhone (iOS 5.0 or later) with the latest version of the
Pandora App
from the Apple's iTunes App Store. Your iPhone will need an active Data Plan
account with connection to the Internet via 3G, EDGE, or WiFi. You will also
need a Pandora music service account.

Pandora via Android or BlackBerry: The JVC KW-R900BT also
lets you playback and control Pandora Internet Radio streamed from your Android
or BlackBerry smartphone, via Bluetooth (no hard-wired connection required).
Your Android or BlackBerry smartphone must have the latest version of the
Pandora App from the
Android Market or the
BlackBerry App World. Your Android or BlackBerry smartphone must also be
Bluetooth A2DP/AVRCP/SPP certified and will need an active Data Plan account
with connection to the Internet via 3G, EDGE, or WiFi. In addition, you will
need an active Pandora music service account.

USB/Aux Inputs

Dual USB Ports: The JVC KW-R900BT features a
front-panel USB 2.0 type-A port (behind a sliding cover) and a rear-panel USB
2.0 type-A port (attached to a 45" pigtail) for connection of USB mass-storage
class device; ssuch as select Android smartphones (Froyo/Gingerbread OS only),
portable digital audio players, or USB thumbdrives. The USB ports
enable audio playback and control of MP3, WMA, & WAV audio files stored on
portable USB mass-storage class devices. Both of the USB terminals can be
connected to USB devices at the same time. USB portable audio players that can
be charged via USB will be charged when plugged into the CD receiver's USB port
(5V/1A), and the vehicle's ignition switch is set to ACC or On. You cannot
connect a USB device via a USB hub or Multi-Card Reader to this unit.

Note: The rear-panel USB port comes with the KS-UBT1
Bluetooth adapter installed. The this Bluetooth adapter must remain
installed for Bluetooth functionality. It can be removed to allow connection
of a second USB (MSC) device.

Drive Change Mode (for BlackBerry and Android): JVC's Drive
Change Mode lets you connect your Android or BlackBerry smartphone (that uses an
external memory card) directly to the head unit, via USB. Drive Change Mode will
let you switch between your Android or BlackBerry smartphone's internal and
external memory (such as microSD Card), so you can listen to music stored on
either memory. You'll continue to be able control basic playback functions; such
as folder/file search, play/pause, and skip next/previous; regardless of memory
type.

Playable Files: The JVC KW-R900BT supports the following
types of MP3/WMA/WAV files loaded onto a USB mass storage class device. The USB
device must be formatted in FAT 12/16/32. The CD receiver can support up to a
total of 20,000 files and 2,000 folders (999 files per folder).

File Type

File Extension

Bit Rate

Sampling Frequency

Tags

MP3

.mp3

8-320 kbps

16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 kHz

ID3 tag (version 1.0/1.1/2.2/2.3/2.4)

WMA

.wma

5-320 kbps

8-48 kHz

WMA tag

WAV

.wav

705 or 1411 kbps

44.1 kHz

N/A

ID3/WMA Tags: The unit also supports ID3 and WMA tags for
display of album and artist information. The unit can display up to 128
characters.

Track/Folder List: The Track/Folder List displays a list of
MP3/WMA/WAV folders and tracks on a connected USB memory device, so you can
easily access your music.

Quick Search: You can search for your MP3, WMA, or WAV music
tracks alphabetically (A-Z) or numerically (0-9).

Playback Modes: In addition to Normal playback, you can
select from Repeat and Random playback modes.

Repeat: Track Repeat (plays the current track
repeatedly), Folder Repeat (plays all tracks of the current folder
repeatedly), Off (cancels repeat function)

Random: Folder Random (plays all tracks of the current
folder, then the tracks of the next folder in random), All Random (plays all
tracks of the current USD device at random), Off (cancels random function)

USB Charging: The head unit's USB connection provides 1A of
current to power and charge your connected USB mass storage class device when
your vehicle's ignition switch is set to the 'ACC' or 'On' position.

Front-Panel Auxiliary Input: A front-panel stereo minijack
is provided to allow the connection of a portable audio source. Simply connect
your portable digital music player to the unit's front-panel auxiliary input,
and you can listen to the audio from the portable player through the speakers in
your mobile audio system. The unit's front-panel auxiliary input can be turned
On or Off.

Optional Input Adapter: An optional Line Input Adapter (120JVAIRCA,
sold separately) may be used to provide an additional auxiliary audio input on
this unit. This feature allows you to connect a portable audio player, such as a
portable MP3 player, to this unit as an additional audio source. The adapter
connects to the proprietary J-port on the rear-chassis of the head unit.

iPod/iPhone Control

iPod/iPhone Direct: The JVC KW-R900BT's front-panel or
rear-panel USB port can acts as an iPod/iPhone high-speed direct connection when
used with the USB/iPod cable that came with your iPod/iPhone. An additionaliPod
cable is available so you can leave one at home and one in the car. Using an
iPod
cable allows audio playback, music navigation, information display, and charging
of select iPod/iPhone models from the JVC in-dash head unit.

iPod DAC Bypass: The USB connection allows your iPod/iPhone's
stored music to be loaded instantly to the head unit and sound quality to be
maximized through the head unit's 24-bit D/A converter, allowing for a Signal to
Noise ratio up to 102dB. The JVC head unit supports audio playback of music,
podcasts, audiobooks, and music apps stored on your iPod or iPhone.

iPod/iPhone Control: You can choose to operate your
iPod/iPhone through the JVC head unit's front-panel controls, from its
clickwheel/touchscreen, or via a streamed app from your iPhone.

Head Unit: From the head unit's front-panel controls
you can search for music by Playlist, Artist, Album, Song, Podcast, Genre,
Composer, and Audiobooks. Once a Playlist or Category is selected, you can
search for your iPod's music alphabetically (A-Z) or numerically (0-9). The
KW-R900BT also supports Repeat (file/all) and Random (album/all) playback
functions of your iPod/iPhone.

iPod: You can choose to navigate your iPod or iPhone's
stored music from its clickwheel or touchscreen, like you are accustomed to
during normal usage.

External (App Mode): External Mode lets you enjoy audio
content from your downloaded music Apps (such as
iHeartRadio,
SiriusXM,
Rhapsody, &
Slackerstreamed to your Apple iPhone, through the JVC KW-R900BT. You
will continue to use your iPhone's touchscreen to navigate and view your
apps; the head unit will only display the clock and "EXT Mode".

Note: Access to your iPhone's downloaded application
will depend on the availability of a cellular and/or WiFi network for
purposes of allowing your iPhone to connect to the Internet.

iPod Display: The KW-R900BT will display your iPod/iPhone's
music file information, when in Head Unit and iPod mode (not in External
mode), or listening to Pandora Internet Radio. The head unit can display Track
number, Elapsed playing time, Artist name, Song title, and Album label.

Auto Drive Router App: Auto Drive Router is a free JVC app from iTunes
for your iPhone (iOS 4.2 or later). This app can be controlled from the JVC
KW-R900BT, when your iPhone is connected to the head unit's USB port. Auto Drive
Router lets you record your traveled routes and store recorded data on your
iPhone, using Google Maps. E-mails with map data can also be sent quickly and
easily from your iPhone, letting others know where you are or where you want to
meet. You can start and stop when Auto Driver Router records your routes
using the in-dash CD receiver's controls. You can also send an email template to
your predetermined contacts directly from the receiver's controls. You can do
all this while still listening to stored music or streamed music from your
iPhone on the JVC KW-R900BT.

Drive Data: This function allows you to record routes and store
them as data in your iPhone, enabling you to easily retrieve data just by
selecting a route from the Saved Route List. When data is called up on your
iPhone, the route being taken will be shown as a single line on the map in
different colors to indicate how fast you were traveling. It is also
possible to zoom in and out of maps on your iPhone, as well as see the speed
and altitude of routes in a graph format on the iPhone's touchscreen. By
connecting an iPhone with this app installed to the KW-R900BT, you can
record routes via the control knobs and buttons of the in-dash head unit.

Here I AM: When you select the "Here I Am" function on the Auto
Drive Router app, a flag showing "Here I Am?" will appear on the on-screen
Google Map of your iPhone to indicate your current location. And by using a
default template, an e-mail will also be created instantaneously for
delivery of the map to multiple recipients. The flag can also be placed in
different locations on the on-screen map of the iPhone with the "Here I Am"
function being used to e-mail changes in meeting spots. When your iPhone is
connected to the JVC CD receiver, your email templates can be selected and
sent directly from the head unit.

Note: The JVC head unit must be set to External/App mode. All visual
map data will be displayed on your connected iPhone (not the JVC head unit). You can only control a specific
number of functions from the JVC head unit. Not compatible with iPad or
other iPod models.

iPod Charging: The head unit's USB connection provides 1A of
current to power and charge your connected iPod/iPhone when your vehicle's
ignition switch is set to the 'ACC' or 'On' position. This unit does not
charge the iPad. If your iPod/iPhone has no initial battery charge,
then the unit will not recognize it.

iPod Compatibility Chart: The JVC KW-R900BT is "Made for
iPod/iPhone" compatible and supports the following iPod/iPhone model features
(as of 9/25/2013):

iPod Model

Generation

Tested Version

Media Type

Control Type

Display Type

Pandora app

Auto Drive Router

Charge

Audio

Video

Head Unit

iPod

App mode

Artist/Song Text

Track Info

video

5th

1.3

Y

N

Y

N

N

Y

Y

N

N

Y

classic

80GB

1.1.2

Y

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

N

N

Y

120GB

2.0.1

Y

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

N

N

Y

160GB

2.0.4

Y

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

N

N

Y

nano

1st

1.3.1

Y

N

Y

N

N

Y

Y

N

N

Y

2nd

1.1.3

Y

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

N

N

Y

3rd

1.1.3

Y

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

N

N

Y

4th

1.0.4

Y

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

N

N

Y

5th

1.0.2

Y

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

N

N

Y

6th

1.2 PC

Y

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

N

N

Y

7th

1.2

Y

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

N

N

Y

touch

1st

2.2.1

Y

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

N

N

Y

2nd

4.2.1

Y

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

N

N

Y

3rd

5.1.1

Y

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

N

N

Y

4th

6.1.3

Y

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

N

N

Y

5th

7.0.2

Y

N

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

N

N

Y

iPhone

2G

3.1.3

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

Y

3G

4.2.1

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

Y

3GS

5.1.1

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

4

7.0.2

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

4S

7.0.2

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

5

7.0.2

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

5C

7.0.2

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

5S

7.0.2

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

iPad

1

5.1.1

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

2

7.0.2

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

3

7.0.2

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

4

7.0.2

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

N

mini

7.0.2

Y

N

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Note: Apple iPod/iPhone software updates may change
functionality results. If you download a newer software version, you may
need to reset the head unit and your iPod/iPhone to regain functionality. If
this doesn't work, you may need to wait until a newer software update is
available.

Remote Control

Wireless Remote Control: The
KW-R900BT comes supplied with a wireless remote control (RM-RK52). The remote
contains Attenuator, Sound, Source, Tracking, and Volume functions. The
remote operates off of a single CR2025 3V Lithium-cell battery (included).

Smart Remote App for Android: JVC's Smart Remote App lets
you view the current status and perform simple gesture control of the JVC head
unit from your Android smartphone. The Smart Remote App uses Bluetooth to
communicate between your Android smartphone and the JVC car receiver. The JVC
head unit will auto connect to the Smart Remote App when your Smartphone is in
range. The Smart Remote App is specifically designed for easy gesture control
operation while driving, so driver and passenger can access information with
ease from the Android Smartphone. With the Smart Remote App, passenger and
driver can check current playing song details or other car stereo information.

Information Display: The JVC Smart Report App will
display Song information such as Song title, Artist name, and Album label
from a connected USB mass storage class device on your Android Smartphone.
It also displays AM/FM station frequency # and name. In addition, it
provides source, EQ, and playback mode indicator icons.

Gesture Control Operation: The JVC Smart Report App
lets you use finger gesture commands on your Android smartphone to control
the playback of the JVC head unit. This type of gesture control is designed
to operate the JVC head unit from your smartphone without having to look at
your smartphone. Gesture control operations include Finger tap, Finger hold,
Finger click, Finger swipe (right/left/up/down), and Finger curve
(right/left/up/down).

Steering Wheel Remote Compatibility: The head unit features
an OEM steering wheel remote control input wire (blue/yellow) within the
included wiring harness that lets you keep your vehicle's factory radio steering
wheel remote controls when used with an optional
steering wheel audio control adapter (sold separately). Please consult
Crutchfield's
Outfit My Car to see if your vehicle is compatible.

Disc Playback

Disc Compatibility: The unit features a single disc player
that will playback CD-Audio, CD-Text, and finalized CD-R/CD-RW audio discs.

MP3/WMA Playback: The KW-R900BT can play MP3/WMA (5-320 kbps) music files that have been recorded on CD-R/CD-RW discs.
The disc must be recorded in one of the following formats: ISO 9660 Level
1/Level 2, Joliet, or Romeo. The CD receiver can support up to a total of 20,000
files and 2,000 folders (999 files per folder). The unit also supports IDTag3
(version 1.0, 1.1, 2.2, 2.3 or 2.4) for album and artist information from MP3 or
WMA files.

Track/Folder List: The Track/Folder List displays a list of
MP3/WMA folders and tracks on a loaded CD, so you can easily access your music.
The Track/Folder List will also display the list of track titles on a CD Text
disc.

Quick Search: You can search for your MP3, WMA, or WAV music
tracks alphabetically (A-Z) or numerically (0-9).

Repeat: Track Repeat (plays the current track repeatedly), Folder
Repeat (plays all tracks of the current folder repeatedly), Off (cancels
repeat function)

Random: Folder Random (plays all tracks of the current folder, then
the tracks of the next folder in random), All Random (plays all tracks of
the current disc at random), Off (cancels random function)

Disc Resume: If you change the
source, playback also stops (without ejecting the disc). Next time you select CD
for the playback source, the disc will start from where it has been stopped
previously.

Off Insert/Eject: A CD disc can be inserted or ejected with
the power off. When a disc is inserted with the power off, the unit will
automatically power up and begin playback.

Disc Protection:If the ejected
disc is not removed within 15 seconds, the disc is automatically inserted again
into the loading slot to protect it from dust. The source will change to CD, and
the disc will begin playback, even if you have another source selected at the
time.

Mounting: For proper disc playback you must install the unit
within 30-degrees of horizontal.

Radio Functions

AM/FM Tuner: The JVC KW-R900BT features a built-in AM/FM
tuner with manual, seek, and preset tuning.

RDS: The Radio Data System (RDS) feature displays radio
broadcast information such as artist, title, and album when listening to
compatible AM/FM stations.

Preset Tuning: You can store a total of 18 FM stations
presets and 6 AM station presets. The radio allows you to set your AM/FM
stations manually or automatically.

Radio Timer: You can tune into a preset station at a
specific time regardless of the head unit's current source. You can activate the
Radio Timer once, daily, or turn it completely off.

IF Filter: You can also switch the tuner's IF filter to Wide
or Auto to increase/decrease the sensitivity.

Mono: If an analog FM stereo broadcast is hard to receive,
you can manually switch the tuner to Mono operation.

US/European Tuning: You can set the built-in AM/FM tuner
between US standard and European tuning spacing.

Display Features

Variable Color LCD & Key Illumination: The JVC KW-R900BT
features 29 color presets for the LCD and button illumination. You can choose
one of these color presets or select the ColorFlow mode which scrolls through
all 29 color presets. Additionally, there is a User preset, allowing you to
individually adjust the intensity of Red, Green, and Blue from 0 to 31;
resulting in approximately 30,000 custom color options. The chosen color preset
or custom color can be applied to the display panel and the backlighting for all
the buttons except the eject and display buttons (they remains red).
You can choose to use the same color for the LCD display and button
illumination, or use a separate color for each one. You can also select a
different color for daytime and nighttime in regards to the unit's LCD and
button illumination.

Brightness: The unit offers an adjustable display and button
illumination brightness level (0-31) for day and nighttime driving.

Display/Button Illumination Dimmer: The display/button
illumination dimmer can be set to Off (normal brightness at all times), On
(display/button illumination is always dimmed), or Auto (display dims when
12-volts is applied to the orange/white illumination lead).

2-DIN Chassis: The JVC KW-R900BT has a 2-DIN chassis (also
known as Double DIN), and will fit in many vehicles with a large dash opening.
The unit can be ISO-mounted using factory brackets, or Euro-mounted using the
supplied mounting sleeve. As always, please consult Crutchfield's
Outfit My Car to verify fit with your vehicle.

Our Product Research Team

At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team. They verify what’s in the box, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.

Accessories

Staff Reviews

Product reviews from the Crutchfield Labs

Easy navigation

When I began using the KW-R900BT, I was first impressed by the easy-to-use interface, which offers a great layout and a very aesthetically pleasing look. Its bigger buttons are well placed, makes navigating through sources and music extremely swift. The multi-line display gives you plenty of information helping you navigate music quickly and also make changing settings very easy.

In terms of sound quality, whether it's USB or Bluetooth audio streaming the Burr-Brown digital-to-analog converter makes a big difference. You also have ability to turn off the internal amp if you decide to take advantage of the unit's high quality pre-amp section with external amps.

The hands-free calling has been very reliable and a breeze to use. The Bluetooth adapter comes pre-installed on the rear USB input though is also movable to the front USB. This is the way I use it, as I'd much prefer the smaller Bluetooth sensor up front rather than a USB cable sticking out of the front of the unit.

A small critique  the glossy display can make the screen harder to read in bright daylight.

Overall I've been extremely happy with this unit as it exceeded my expectations.

first do you have to turn the demo mode off,then set your color after that iF continues the flash you have a bad unit. also there are certain mods That flash multiple colors you have to set your colors manually. I hope that helps.[ FREDERICK Jul 16, 2014 ]

Be sure you are following the menu and manual exactly. If that still does not work, I would disconnect the power wire for around 30 seconds and reconnect and try again. Good luck![ MARK Jul 16, 2014 ]

Hi Chuck -Sorry, you have reached a complete moron when it comes to stereo electronics. All I can tell you is that the unit works great except somehow the clock gets one hour off over a period of a couple days. Sorry, not an answer to your question. Other than that, the unit is great.Sorry.Eric[ ERIC J Jun 09, 2014 ]

For details on fit or installation please contact an Advisor by phone (1-800-324-9695) or online chat. They will be able to pull up your vehicle and give you the details on if this will fit and what you will need for an installation in your vehicle.[ Krissy Mar 16, 2014 ] Staff

yes... the clock displays in all modes and with the "disp" button in the upper left, you get your choice of different ways the information is displayed. It's a very intuitive unit and sounds great. The bluetooth is easy to use and the sound quality if good. I mounted the microphone on my steering column right in front of me. I love it.[ BRIAN Jan 11, 2014 ]

You can set it to be on all the time if you want.[ BRUCE K Jan 07, 2014 ]

Yes it does. I love this deck and am thinking about switching out my other car's OEM one.[ KRISTIN Jan 02, 2014 ]

the clock only displays when you play the cassette tape.[ RYAN S Jan 02, 2014 ]

yes[ GEORGE Jan 02, 2014 ]

Thanks. I had a single DIN JVC that worked that way, but it died. I was hoping this double DIN unit was the same.[ Kenneth Jan 01, 2014 ]

Thanks. That is what I needed to verify.[ Kenneth Jan 01, 2014 ]

Yes, the clock is in in all modes as far as I remember. But this is in my summer car which I haven't been in for a few months.[ RENE Jan 01, 2014 ]

The clock is displayed in all modes when it is on.[ DAVID Jan 01, 2014 ]

Yes, it does. It is not a huge displayed item, but it is kept on in the right upper corner of the unit. Exceptions may be while in Menu mode as I have not been paying attention for time while programming or tweaking something.
Hope this helps![ James Jan 01, 2014 ]